The Republic of Cyprus is a constitutional republic and multiparty presidential democracy. In 2013 voters elected President Nicos Anastasiades in free and fair elections. On May 22, voters elected 56 representatives to the 80-seat House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon) in free and fair elections. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The most significant problems during the year remained trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation and labor; police abuse and their degrading treatment of persons in custody and asylum seekers; and violence against women, including spousal abuse. Other problems during the year included: prison overcrowding; lack of separation of pretrial detainees from convicted criminals; prolonged detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in prison-like conditions; deportation of rejected asylum seekers before they had an opportunity to appeal their asylum decision; lack of full access to and administration of some religious sites; government corruption; incidents of violence against children; instances of discrimination and violence against members of minority ethnic and national groups; and societal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. The government investigated and prosecuted corruption and officials who committed violations.